Wrap-around can carrier carton with interlock retaining means



Oct. 4, 1966 s. WELLS WRAPAROUND CAN CARRIER CARTON WITH INTERLOCKRETAINING MEANS Filed Aug. 18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 fzzxen'z fif" 5223032622, [Hells Oct. 4, 1966 s. WELLS 3,276,661

WRAP-AROUND CAN CARRIER CARTONWITH INTERLOCK RETAINING MEANS Filed Aug.18, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 fur/677C257"! 52"? 218729 ZZ/eZZs UnitedStates Patent Delaware Filed Aug. 18, 1964, Ser. No. 390,371 4 Claims.(Cl. 229-40) This invention relates to can carrier cartons, and moreparticularly to sleeve-type, wrap-around, can carrier cartons of thetype adapted to enclose two adjacent rows of chimed cans arranged inparallel side-by-side relation.

The invention is an improvement over cartons of the type disclosed inUnited States Letters Patent No. Re. 25,111, wherein the opposite endsof a carton blank are joined to each other, as the blank is wrappedaround two adjacent parallel rows of chimed cans, to form a central canretaining member which projects into the carton be tween the rows ofcans to engage the can chimes and prevent or limit the vertical movementof the cans within the carton.

In this type of carton the retaining member includes a pair of firstportions extending into the carton from one wall thereof and a pair ofsecond portions hinged to respective first portions and extending backtoward said one carton wall, but stopping short thereof, to present freeedge surfaces spaced inwardly from the carton wall affording openingsfor receiving portions of the chimes of the cans packaged in adjacentrows.

It is therefore a primary object of this invention to provide, in acarton of the type described, means for interlocking the can retainingmember portions connected to opposite ends of the carton blank.

A more specific object of the invention is to provide, in a carton ofthe type described, a central can retaining member formed from a pair ofextensions on opposite ends of the blank each of which have first andsecond portions hinged to each other, and wherein one extension isadapted to extend through an opening in the other extension whereby thefirst portion of each panel extension is interposed between the firstand second portions of the other panel.

These and other objects of the invention will be apparent from anexamination of the following description and drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a loaded wraparound carrier cartonembodying features of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a view similar to FIGURE 1 but with the package being shownin an inverted position;

FIGURE 3 is a plan view of the blank from which the carton of theprevious views may be formed;

FIGURE 4 is a transverse vertical section taken on line 44 of FIGURE 2;

FIGURE 5 is a longitudinal sectional view taken on line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a fragmentary enlarged view of the auxiliary interlockingconnecting means of the structure illustrated in FIGURE 2 of thedrawing;

FIGURES 7, 8 and 9 are diagrammatic views, as seen from the end of thepackage shown in FIGURES 1 and 2, illustrating the manner in which thecarton is formed, with the interlocking portions of central canretaining member being joined together.

It will be understood that, for purposes of clarity, certain elementshave been intentionally omitted from certain views where they arebelieved to be illustrated to better advantage in other views.

Referring now to the drawings for a better understanding of theinvention, and particularly to FIGURES 1, 2, and 3, it will be seen thatthe wrap-around or sleeve-type 3,276,661 Patented Oct. 4, 1966 "icecarrier carton illustrated in FIGURES 1 and 2 is adapted to enclose twoparallel rows of cylindrical containers K such as metal cans of the typehaving a generally cylindrical body B with the peripheral chime H at atleast one end thereof. The carrier carton illustrated in FIG- URES 1 and2 may be formed from the unitary blank L in a foldable paperboard asillustrated in FIGURE 3 of the drawing.

As best seen in FIGURE 1, the carton comprises a pair of verticallyspaced, generally parallel, horizontal top and bottom walls 10 and 12,respectively, which are interconnected by a pair of vertically disposedside walls 14. Still referring to FIGURE 1, it will be seen that the topwall 10 is preferably a one piece panel; whereas, bottom wall 12comprises a pair of first and second panel sections 12a and 12b,respectively, which are hingedly connected at their outboard edges tothe lower edges of side walls 14 and have at their inboard edges panelextensions 16a and 16b, respectively which in turn are interconnected toform a central longitudinal retaining member 18 adapted to project intothe carton between the opposed rows of cans to engage the cans and limittheir vertical movement relative to the bottom wall of the carton.

Still referring to FIGURE 1, it will be seeen that the top wall panelmay be provided with a pair of spaced finger grip holes or openings 20.Also the top wall may be provided with a plurality of can retaining tabs22 and 24 which are adapted to engage the recessed ends of the cans andthe sides of the ends of the cans, respectively, in a manner heretoforeknown to the art. Also, one of the side walls 14 of the patent may beprovided with a line of perforation to form a tear strip 26, in aconventional manner.

Referring now to FIGURE 3 of the drawings, it will be seen that bottomwall panels sections 12a and 12b have extensions 16a and 16b formedintegrally therewith and hinged thereto which are adapted to cooperatewith each other to provide the carrier carton central can retainingmember 18, as shown in FIGURE 1.

Turning now to the lower portion of FIGURE 3 of the drawings, whereinpanel extension 16a is illustrated, it will be seen that the panelextension includes a first panel 30 hingedly attached to the edge ofbottom wall panel section 12a, a second panel 32 hingedly attached tothe edge of first panel 30, and a third panel 34 hingedly attached tothe edge of second panel 32. It will also be noted that there isprovided between first and second panels 30 and 32 a plurality oflongitudinally disposed longitudinally spaced slits 36 the function ofwhich is hereinafter described. Also it will be seen that at its freeedge third panel 34 has formed integrally therewith and projectingoutwardly therefrom a plurality of longitudinally spaced tabs 38, thepurpose of which is hereinafter described. I

Turning now to the opposite end of the blank illustrated in the upperportion of FIGURE 3, it will be seen that panel section extension 16b,which is hingedly attached to and projects from the end of bottom wallpanel section 12b, includes a first panel 40 hinged to panel section 12band extending across the length of the carton and which in turn hashingedly attached thereto a plurality of first strips 42 each of whichin turn has a second strip 44 hinged thereto.

Now turning to FIGURES 4 and 5, it will be seen that when the ends ofthe carton are brought together with the bottom wall panel sectionextensions 16a and 16!; joined and interconnected to form the centralretaining member 18, the first panels 30 and 40 of each extension aredisposed in parallel back-to-back relation with their inner edgesextending into the carton at right angles to bottom wall 12. Hingedlyattached at its inner edge to the inner edge of panel 30, panel 32 isdisposed in generally parallel relationship with panel 30 and extendsoutwardly toward the bottom wall 12. However, the outer edge of panel 32terminates short of the bottom wall a distance approximately equal tothe height of the can chime. Hingedly attached at its outer edge to theouter edge of panel 32 and extending inwardly therefrom is third panel34, which is interposed between the first and second panels in generallyparallel relation therewith.

Hingedly attached at its inner edge to the inner edge of panel 40 is afirst retaining strip 42 which extends back outwardly toward bottom wall12 and which has hingedly attached to its outer edge a second connectingstrip 44 disposed to extend back inwardly in parallel relation with theother strips and panels,

It will be noted that bottom wall panel section extension 16a isprovided with the slits 36, located between panels 30 and 32, whichserve a two-fold purpose. One function of the slits is to permit thepassage therethrough of retaining strips 41 and 42, so that theextension 16b will have interlocking connection with extensions 16a toeliminate the need for gluing the bottom wall panel sections of thecarton together. The other function of the slits 36 is to receive theend portions of related tabs 38 to maintain panels 32 and 34 in snugback-to-back relation. Thus, by virtue of this interlocking connectionan especially rigid central retaining member 18 is provided wherein theportions of each bottom wall panel extension is disposed between relatedportions of the other bottom wall panel extension.

If desired auxiliary locking for the carton may be provided by theformation in the bottom wall panel sections 12a and 12b of a pluralityof generally U-shaped female slits 44 adapted to receive complementaryarrow-shaped male locking tabs 46 cut from first 30 and 40,respectively, and hinged to and projecting from the edges of the bottomwall panel sections which are adapted to be received within the relatedfemale locking slits 46.

Thus, there has been provided a compact, wrap-around, can carrier cartonwhich does not require any gluing or stitching to maintain the carton inerected condition but which at the same time is provided with alongitudinal retaining member adapted to project inwardly into thecarton between a pair of rows of cans and engage the cans to limit theirvertical movement relative to the carton.

I claim:

1. An open-end, sleeve-type, non-glued, wrap-around, carrier carton, forholding two adjacent, parallel rows of chimed cans arranged inside-by-side relation, formed from a unitary, blank of foldablepaperboard, comprising:

(a) opposed pairs of top and bottom walls and side walls hingedlyinterconnected to form a tubular structure open at the ends;

(b) one of said top and bottom walls including a pair of generallyco-plan ar panel sections having their outboard edges hinged torespective side walls and having at their inboard edges extensionsinterconnected and arranged to form a central can retaining memberextending longitudinally the entire length of the carton betweenadjacent rows of cans;

(0) one of said panel section extensions including:

(i) a first panel hinged at its outer edge to the inboard edge of saidone panel section and extending into the carton normal to said one panelsection;

(ii) a second panel hinged at its inner edge to the inner edge of saidfirst panel and extending toward said other panel section in generallyparallel relation with said first panel and having an outer edge spacedinwardly from said other panel section a distance substantially equal tothe height of a can chime;

(iii) a third panel hinged at its outer edge to the outer edge of saidsecond panel and extending into the carton between and generallyparallel to said first and second panels;

(d) the other of said panel extensions including:

(i) a single panel hinged at its outer edge to the inboard edge of saidother panel section and extending into the carton normal to said otherpanel section between said first and third panels;

(ii) a plurality of first strips spaced from each other longitudinallyof the carton and hinged at their inner edges to the inner edge of saidsingle panel and disposed to extend through aligned openings in saidfirst panel sect-ion extension, to provide an interlocking connectionbetween said panel section extensions, and extending toward said onepanel section and having an outer edge spaced inwardly from said onepanel section a distance substantially equal to the height of a canchi-me;

(ii-i) a plurality of second strips hinged at their outer edges to outeredges of respective first strips and extending inwardly into the cartonbetween said first panel and related first strips.

2. An open-end, sleeve-type, non-glued, wrap-around, carrier carton, forholding two adjacent, parallel rows of chimed cans arranged inside-by-side relation, formed from a unitary, blank of foldablepaperboard, comprising:

(a) opposed pairs of top and bottom walls and side walls hingedlyinterconnected to form a tubular struc ture open at the ends;

(b) one of said top and bottom Walls including a pair of generallyco-planar panel sections having their outboard edges hinged torespective side walls and having at their inboard edges extensionsinterconnected and arranged to form a central can retaining memberextending longitudinally the entire length of the carton betweenadjacent rows of cans;

(c) one of said panel section extensions including:

(i) a first panel hinged at its outer edge to the inboard edge of saidone panel section and extending into the carton normal to said one panelsection;

(ii) a second panel hinged at its inner edge to the inner edge of saidfirst panel and extending toward said other panel section in generallyparallel relation with said first panel and having an outer edge spacedinwardly from said other panel section a distance substantially equal tothe height of a can chime;

(d) the other of said panel extensions including:

(i) a single panel hinged at its outer edge to the inboard edge of saidother panel section and extending into the carton normal to said otherpanel section between said first and second panels;

(ii) a plurality of strips spaced from each other longitudinally of thecarton and hinged at their inner edges to the inner edge of said singlepanel and disposed to extend through aligned openings in said firstpanel section extension, to provide an interlocking connection betweensaid panel section extensions, and extending toward said one panelsection and having an outer edge spaced inwardly from said one panelsection a distance substantially equal to the height of a can chime.

3. An open-end, sleeve-type, non-glued, wrap-around, carrier carton, forholding two adjacent, parallel rows of chimed cans arranged inside-by-side relation, formed from a unitary, blank of foldablepaperboard, comprising:

(a) opposed pairs of top and bottom walls and side walls hingedlyinterconnected to form a tubular structure open at the ends;

(b) one of said top and bottom walls including a pair of generallyco-planar panel sections having their outboard edges hinged torespective side walls and having at their inboard edges extensionsinterconnected and arranged to form a central can retaining memberextending longitudinally the entire length of the carton betweenadjacent rows of cans;

(c) each of said panel section extensions including:

(i) a first portion hinged at its outer edge to the inboard edge of itsrelated panel section and disposed to extend into the carton between apair of opposed cans of adjacent rows in a direction normal to said onecarton wall;

(ii) a second portion hinged at its inner edge to the inner edge of saidfirst portion and disposed to extend, in generally parallel relationwith said first portion, toward said one wall and having its outer edgespaced inwardly from said one wall a distance approximately equal to theheight of a can chime;

(d) one of said panel extensions extending through an opening in theother-panel extension to provide an interlocking connection between saidpanel extensions, wherein the first portion of each panel extension isinterposed between the first and second portions of the other panelextension.

4. An open-end, s1eevetype, wrap-around carrier carton, for holding twoadjacent, parallel rows of chimed cans arranged in side-by-siderelation, formed from a unitary, blank of foldable paperboard,comprising:

(a) opposed pairs of top and bottom walls and side walls hingedlyinterconnected to form a tubular structure open at the ends;

(b) one of said top and bottom walls including a pair of generallyc-o-planar panel sections having their outboard edges hinged torespective side walls and having at their inboard edges extensionsinterconnected and arranged to form can retaining means extending intothe carton between adjacent rows of cans;

(c) each of said panel section extensions including:

(i) a first portion hinged at its outer edge to the inboard edge of itsrelated panel section panel section and disposed to extend into thecarton between a pair of opposed cans of adjacent rows in a directionnormal to said one carton wall;

(ii) a second portion hinged at its inner edge to the inner edge of saidfirst portion and disposed to extend toward said one wall and having itsouter edge spaced inwardly from said one wall a distance approximatelyequal to the height of a can chime;

(d) one of said panel extensions extending through an opening in theother panel extension to provide an interlocking connection between saidpanel extensions, wherein the first portion of each panel extension isinterposed between the first and second portions of the other panelextension.

No references cited.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Primary Examiner. D. T. MOORHEAD, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN OPEN-END, SLEEVE-TYPE, NON-GLUED, WRAP-AROUND CARRIER CARTON, FORHOLDING TWO ADJACENT, PARALLEL ROWS OF CHIMED CANS ARRANGED INSIDE-BY-SIDE RELATION, FORMED FROM A UNITARY, BLANK OF FOLDABLEPAPERBOARD COMPRISING: (A) OPPOSED PAIRS OF TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS ANDSIDE WALLS HINGEDLY INTERCONNECTED TO FORM A TUBULAR STRUCTURE OPEN ATTHE END; (B) ONE OF SAID TOP AND BOTTOM WALLS INCLUDING A PAIR OFGENERALLY CO-PLANAR PANEL SECTIONS HAVING THEIR OUTBOARD EDGES HINGED TORESPECTIVE SIDE WALLS AND HAVING AT THEIR INBOARD EDGE EXTENSIONSINTERCONNECTED AND ARRANGED TO FORM A CENTRAL CAN RETAINING MEMBEREXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THE ENTIRE LENGTH OF THE CARTON BETWEENADJACENT ROWS OF CANS; (C) ONE OF SAID PANEL SECTION EXTENSION INCLUDING(I) A FIRST PANEL HINGED AT ITS OUTER EDGE TO THE INBOARD EDGE OF SAIDONE PANEL SECTION AND EXTENDING INTO THE CARTON NORMAL TO SAID ONE PANELSECTION; (II) A SECOND PANEL HINGED AT ITS INNER EDGE TO THE INNER EDGEOF SAID FIRST PANEL AND EXTENDING TOWARD SAID OTHER PANEL SECTION INGENERALLY PARALLEL RELATION WITH SAID FIRST PANEL AND HAVING AN OUTEREDGE SPACED INWARDLY FROM SAID OTHER PANEL SECTION A DISTANCESUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE HEIGHT OF A CAN CHIME; (III) A THIRD PANELHINGED AT ITS OUTER EDGE TO THE OUTER EDGE OF SAID SECOND PANEL ANDEXTENDING INTO THE CARTON BETWEEN AND GENERALLY PARALLEL TO SAID FIRSTAND SECOND PANELS; (D) THE OTHER OF SAID PANEL EXTENSIONS INCLUDING: (I)A SINGLE PANEL HINGED AT ITS OUTER EDGE TO THE INBOARD EDGE OF SAIDOTHER PANEL SECTION AND EXTENDING INTO THE CARTON NORMAL TO SAID OTHERPANEL SECTION BETWEEN SAID FIRST AND THIRD PANELS; (II) A PLURALITY OFFIRST STRIPS SPACED FROM EACH OTHER LONGITUDINALLY OF THE CARTTON ANDHINGED AT THEIR INNER EDGES TO THE INNER EDGE OF SAID SINGLE PANEL ANDDISPOSED TO EXTEND THROUGH ALIGNED OPENINGS IN SAID FIRST PANEL SECTIONEXTENSION, TO PROVIDE AN INTERLOCKING CONNECTION BETWEEN SAID PANELSECTION EXTENSIONS, AND EXTENDING TOWARD SAID ONE PANEL SECTION ANDHAVING AN OUTER EDGE SPACED INWARDLY FROM SAID ONE PANEL SECTION ADISTANCE SUBSTANTIALLY EQUAL TO THE HEIGHT OF A CAN CHIME; (III) APLURALITY OF SECOND STRIPS HINGED AT THEIR OUTER EDGES TO OUTER EDGES OFRESPECTIVE FIRST STRIPS AND EXTENDING INWARDLY INTO THE CARTON BETWEENSAID FIRST PANEL AND RELATED FIRST STRIPS.